A MODERATE EXPEDIENT FOR Preventing of Popery AND The more Effectual Suppression OF JESUITS and PRIESTS Without giving them the Vain-glory OF PRETENDING to MARTYRDOM By a Person of Quality I Am not ignorant that this latter Age hath brought forth a swarm of busie heads which measure the great Mysteries of State by the Rule of their self-conceited Wisdome but if they would consider that the Common-wealth governed by grave Counsellours is like unto a Ship directed by a skilful Pilot to whom the necessities of occasions and grounds of Reason why he steereth the Helm to this or that point of the Compass are better known than to those that stand aloof off they would perhaps be more sparing if not more wary in their Resolutions For my own particular I must confess that I am naturally too much inclined to his opinion who once said Qui bene latuit bene vixit and freshly recalling to mind the saying of Functius to his Friend at the hour of his untimely Death Disce meo exemplo mandato munere fungi Et fuge ceu Pestem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I could easily forbear to make my Hand-writing the Record of any Opinion which nevertheless I protest to maintain rather problematically than by the way of a conclusive assertion therefore without wasting precious time any longer with needless Prologue I will briefly set down the Question in the Terms following Whether it be more expedient to suppress Popish practices against the due Allegiance to his Majesty by the strict execution of the present Laws touching Jesuits and Seminary Priests or to restrain them to close Prison during life if no Reformation following The doubt propounded consisting of two Branches necessarily requireth to be distinctly handled that by comparing either part the conveniency mentioned in the Question may be cleered with more facility 1. In favour of the first Division there are not a few who grounding themselves on an ancient Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A dead man bites not affirm that such are dangerous to be preserved alive who being guilty condemned and full of fear are likely for purchase of life and liberty to engage their utmost in desperate adventures against their King and Country 2. No less is it to be feared that while the Sword of Justice is remiss in cutting off hainous offenders against the dignity of the Crown the misled Papal multitude in the interim may enter into a jealous suspence whether that forbearance proceed from the fear of exasperating their desperate humours or that it is now become questionable whether the execution of their Priests be simply for matter of State or pretended quarrel for Religion 3. And whereas in a remediless inconvenience it is lawful to use the extremity of Laws against some sew that many by terrour of the Example may be reformed what hope can there be that Clemency may tame their hearts who interpret his Majesties grace in transporting their Priests out of this Realm to be a meer shift to rid the Prisons of those whom Conscience could not condemn of any capital Crime 4. Neither are their vaunting whisperings to be neglected by which they seek to confirm the fearful Souls of their Party and to inveigle the ignorant doubtful or discontented persons for if the glorious extolling of their powerful Friends and the expecting of a golden day be suffered to win credit with the meaner sort the relapse cannot be small or the means easie to reform the Errour without a general combustion of the State 5. Let experience speak somewhat in this behalf which hath evidently descried within the current of few years That the forbearance of Severity hath multiplied their Roll in such manner that it remains as a Corrosive to thousands of his Majesties well-affected Subjects 6. To what purpose serves it to muster the names of the Protestants or to vaunt them to be ten for one of the Roman Faction as if bare figures of numeration could prevail against an united Party resolved and advised aforehand how to turn their faces with assurance unto all dangers while in the mean time the Protestants nestling in vain security suffer the Weed to grow up that threatneth their bane and merciless ruine 7. Sometimes the Oath of Supremacy choaked their presumptuous imaginations and yet could not that infernal Smoak be wholly smothered nor the Locusts issuing thereout be cleansed from the face of this Land Now that the Temporal power of the King contained in the Oath of Allegiance is by the Papal See and many of the Adorers thereof impudently avowed to be unlawful shall the broachers of such Doctrine be suffered to live yea to live and be received of us for whose destruction they daily sigh and practice 8. To be a right Popish Priest in true English sense is to bear the Character of a disloyal Renegade one that hath cast off his natural Obedience to his Soveraign by swearing Homage to a Forreign Head Whom if by connivance he shall let slip or chastise with a light hand what immunity may not traiterous Delinquents in lesser degrees expect or challenge after a sort in Equity and Justice 9. If there were no Receivers there would be no Thieves Likewise if there were no Harbourers of the Jesuits it is to be presumed that they would not trouble this Isle with their presence Therefore Rigor must be extended against the Receiver that the Jesuit may be kept out of doors were it then indifferent Justice to hang up the Accessary and let the Principal go free namely to suffer the Priest to draw his breath at length while the Entertainer of him under his Roof submits his body to the Executioners hand Without doubt if it be fit to forbear the chief it will be necessary to receive the second Offender into protection wherewith a mischief must ensue of continual Expence and scandalous restraint of so great a number 10. Reputation is one of the principal Arteries of the Common-wealth which Maxime is so well known to the Secretaries of the Papacy that by private Forgeries and publick impressions of Calumnies they endeavour to wound us in that vital part Howsoever therefore some few of that stamp being better tempered than their fellows in 〈◊〉 of our Government have not spared to affirm That Tyranny is unjustly ascribed thereunto for so much as Freedom of Conscience after a sort may be redeemed for money Notwithstanding there want not many Pamphleteers of their side who opprobriously cast in our teeths the converting of the Penalty inflicted on Recusants and refusers of the Oath of Allegiance from the Kings Exchequer to a particular Purse Surely we cannot presume that these Libellers may be disswaded from spitting out their Venome maliciously against us when they shall see their Priests mewed up without further process of Law for either they will attribute this calm dealing to the Justice of their Cause the strength of their Party or Patience or that tract of time hath discovered our Laws importing
have survived the possibility of that glory if any such hope had remained neither is it to be presumed that being in Prison he would ever have conceived that we durst not touch his Reverence or that the Law was remiss which had justly condemned him and loft his life to the Kings mercy It was the distance of the place and not persons that interpreted the sending over Seas of the Priests to be a greater Argument of their innocency than of his Majesties forbearance for had Father Parsons himself been Coram nobis his song would rather have been of Mercy than Justice It is truely said that we are all instructed better by Examples than Precepts Therefore if the Laws printed and Indictments recorded cannot controul the Calumnies of those that wilfully will mistake Treason for Religion by the execution of two or three of that backbiting number I doubt not but the Question may readily be decided Namque immedicabile vulnus ense recidendum est ne pars sincera trabatur To dally with pragmatical Papists especially with those that by their Example and Counsel pervert his Majesties Subjects I hold it a point of meer Injustice for what comfort may the good expect when the bad are by connivance freed to speak and emboldened to put their disloyal thoughts in execution For explaining therefore of my meaning it is necessary to have a regard unto the nature of the Kings Liege-people that are to be reformed by example of Justice and other Forraigners who will we nill we must be Censurers of our Actions It hath been truely observed that the Nations of Europe which are most remote from Rome are more superstitiously enclined to the dregs of that place than the near Neighbours of Italy Whether that humour proceed from the complexion of the Northern bodies which is naturally more retentive of old Customs than hotter Regions or that the vices of the City seated on seven Hills are by crafty Ministers of that See concealed from the vulgar sort I list not now to discuss but most certain it is that the people of this Isle exceed the Romans in zeal of their Profession insomuch that in Rome it self I have heard the English Fugitives taxed by the name of Pichiapetti Inglesi Now as our Country-men take surer holdfast of Papal Traditions than others so are they naturally better fortified with a Courage to endure Death for the maintainance of that Cause for this Climate is of that temperature out of which Vegetius holdeth it fittest to chuse a valiant Souldier where the heart finding it self provided of plenty of Bloud to sustain sudden defects is not so soon apprehensive of death or dangers as where the Store-house of Bloud being small every hazard maketh pale cheeks and trembling hands Angli say antient Writers bello intrepidi nec mortis sensu deterrentur And thereunto Botero the Italian beareth witness in his Relations of many Strangers Therefore coming out of Forraign parts among the Rarities of England desired to see whether Report hath not been too lavish in affirming that our condemned persons yield their bodies to Death with cheerfulness And were it not that by dayly experience we can call our selves to witness of this truth I could produce the Reverend Judge Fortescue who in commendation of our English Laws made suitable as he well observeth to the inbred conditions of the Inhabitants of this Soyl avoweth that the English people in tryal for Criminal Causes are not compelled by Tortures to confess as in other Nations it is used for as much as the quality of the English is known to be less fearful of Death than of Torments For which cause if the Torments of the Civil Law were offered to an innocent person in England he would rather yield himself guilty and suffer death than endure the horrour of lingring Pains Insulani plerumque fures saith one and so true it is that this Country is stained with that imputation notwithstanding that many are put to death to the end that others by their fall might learn in time to beware If then it doth appear that Terrour prevails not to keep men from Offences which are condemned by Law and Conscience what assurance can there be to scare those who pretend to be satisfied in their minds that their Sufferings are either expresly or by implication for matter of Religion and health of their Souls In such a case to threaten death to English men Quibus nihil interest humive sublimive putrescant is a matter of small consequence Purpuratis Gallis Italis aut Hispanis ista minitari To a setled resolution of death menaces to prolong a wearisome life prevail much more in such cases Rightly did Clement the Eighth consider that by burning two English men in Rome for supposed Heresie he rather impaired his Cause than bettered it insomuch that many present at the resolute death of Mr. Marsh who was brought to dust in Campo di Santa Fiore spared not to proclaim him for a Martyr carried away of his Ashes for a Relique and wished their Souls in the same place with his which News brought to the Popes ear caused him as it was bruted about in Rome solemnly to protest That none of the English Nation should publickly from that time forward be consumed with Fire On the other side if we read the Volumes written of their Priests Constancy their Martyrologie or Kalendar of Martyrs and Path-way of Salvation as it were chalked out unto the Papists by sacrificing their lives for the Pope we shall finde that by taking away of one we have confirmed and invited many whereof I could give particular instances if I thought any scruple were made in that point As for forraign parts which hold with the Papal Supremacy it is cleer that they will be severe and partial Judges in this cause For albeit that here in England it is well known to all true and loyal Subjects that for matter of Roman Doctrine no mans life is directly called into question but that their disobedience in reason of State is the onely motive of their prosecution nevertheless where a great Canton of Christendom is rooted in a contrary opinion and things in this world are for the most part esteemed by outward appearance this Land cannot escape malicious scandals neither shall there be want of Colledges to supply their Faction with Seminaries Therefore again and again I say That if the state of the Question were so set that it were possible by a general execution of the Priests and their Adherents to end the Controversie I could in some sort with better will subscribe thereunto but seeing I finde little hope in that course I hold it safer to be ambitious of the Victory which is purchased with less loss of Bloud and to proceed as Tully teacheth his Orator Who when he cannot wholly overthrow his Adversary yet ought he to do it in some part and with all endeavour to confirm his own party in the best manner that may be
Majesty into the disposition of zealous distributers who will not be afraid to conclude Perdat fiscus ut capiat Christus Neither need we seek any further succour to repair decayed Castles and therein to defray the charge of the Priests with a sure Guard to keep them than the aforesaid Forfeitures that by the Justice of the Law may be collected Which course if ever it come happily to be entertained and that Recusancy cause to be an ignominious prey to the Subjects the proceedings for Religion shall be less blamed and perhaps altogether unjustly accused by any graceless Gretzerus or Cacodaemon Johannes tincting their Pens in Gall and Vinegar For besides occasion of Calumniation given by Suits of that nature it is evident that many Recusants that would be Indicted for the King and the effecting of the Project aforesaid shall escape without punishment and be born out against the Power of a private person begging them to no other purpose than hath heretofore been used and albeit the Penalty be rated at 20 l. a Moneth yet was it never the Law-makers intent that such as were not able to pay so great a Summ should go Scot-free but that according to the proportion of their Ability they should do the penance of their Purses for their Disobedience whereas now if the Voice of the People which is said to be the Voice of God is to be credited the poorer sort is skipt over as if they ought no Souls to God nor Duty to their Soveraign a poor man saith one is to be pitied if he offend through necessity but if he do amiss voluntarily he is more severely to be chastised forasmuch as wanting Friends and Means to bear him out it sheweth that his Fault proceedeth from Presumption 10. Let us now presuppose that all the whole Regiment of Jesuits and Seminaries were lodged in safe custody may we then perswade our selves That Popery will vanish like a dumb Show I am clearly resolved that though it receive a great Eclipse notwithstanding without other helps the Kingdom of Antichrist will only lye hidden as a weed that seems withered in Winter and is ready to sprout out with the Spring Temporal Arms are Remedies serving for a time but the Spiritual Sword is permanent in Operation and by an invisible Blow works more than Mortal Man can imagine The Word of God carries this two-edged Weapon in its mouth which is to be used by faithful Ministers of the Church whom pure Zeal without respect to worldly Promotion or persons ought to encourage Of Judges the Scripture saith Estote fortes and daily we see that sitting in their Judicial Seats God inspireth them with greater Courage than when as private persons they are to give their Opinions No less is the Power of the Holy Ghost in his Servants that out of the Pulpit are to deliver his Embassage Let them therefore not be dismaid to speak out plainly and tell the truth without running a middle course between heat and cold Unprofitable descanting upon the Scripture with an old Postel or for want of better matter waste the poor time shut up in an Hour-glass with skirmishing against the worthy Pillars of our own Profession Rumour which is ever ready to take hold of evil hath raised a secret though as I hope a causeless suspicion that there should be some secret combination under-hand by changing the state of Questions to put us in our old days to learn a new Catechisme and when they have brought us out of conceit with the Reverend Interpreters of the Word to use us then as the Wolves mentioned in Demosthenes Apology handled the Shepherds when they had delivered up their Dogs Most sacred was that Speech of our most gracious King concerning Vorstius He that will speak of Canaan let him speak the Language of Canaan How can we draw others to our Church if we cannot agree where or how to lay our Foundation Or how may we cleanse the leprous Disease of Dissention which the Papists which are least assured to themselves and most doubtful of their Salvation are not ashamed to ascribe unto many of us I would not have Ministers indiscreet like Dogs to bark against all whether they know or know them not I like better the opinion of Aristotle who adviseth those that stand in guard of a place to be curst only to such as are about to endamage the City If Pursevants and other Civil-Officers would learn to keep this Rule they might go about their business with much credit The imagined fear of inviting the Romish Faction by force to deliver their Ghostly Fathers out of Prison moves me not a whit For I cannot believe that they esteem them at so dear a price that they would run the hazard by freeing others out of Hold to put themselves into their places Some will say That a man of straw is a head good enough for a discontented Multitude That the Papists are very Cholerick it appears sufficiently by their Writings Yet it hath pleased God to send those curst Cows short horns that when they could not finde a man of sufficiency to serve their turn they were fain to do Homage to Garnet's Straw forgetful as they are that such stubble cannot endure the Trial of Fire But unto us that ought to be Doers as well as Professors of the Gospel let this remain as a memorable Theoreme Religion is the Mother of good Order good Order is the cause of prosperous Fortune and happy Success in all Counsels and Enterprises Wherefore in what estate soever there wanteth good Order it is an evident Argument that Religion goes backward 11. I have ever held it for a kinde of Injustice to omit the execution of mean Laws made to prevent the effects of Idleness and then to apply main extremity of the Sword when the proling habit gotten by that Vice comes to light No less is the course uncharitable with pardon for this presumption be it spoken when we spare them that have no Religion at all and censure those that can give account of somewhat tending to that purpose He that is in Misery must be born withal if he speak miserably and when the Child from his Mothers Breast hath suckt nothing but Popery a man had need to be angry with discretion if he hear him speak in the voice of a Papist God calleth some by Miracle but the ordinary means is his Word If that means in many places of this Land be wanting of what Religion is it likeliest the people will be I suppose that few men will gainsay my Assertion that outward sense will direct them to Popery which is fuller of Pageants than of Spiritual Doctrine And what is the cause that after so many years of preaching of the Gospel that the common People still retain a scent of the Roman perfume The Cause is For that the formal Obedience of coming to Church hath been more expected than the Instruction of private Families publique Catechising is of great